Everyone at the table raised their glasses and repeated the toast. Alexei had to practically force the words out before he knocked back the latest pour ofthewine.
I’m pretty sure that was a ten-thousand-Euro bottle of wine they opened for this course and you didn’t even enjoy it,Kyle said through thementallink.
What’s to enjoy?Alexei said, his thoughts in Russian translating clearly for everyone through Katie’s telepathy.He compromised. Russians never compromise on a deal. They want a win-lose situation, preferably with them on thewinningside.
I know,Jamie said, speaking up for the first time.But I expected something like this wouldhappen.
Your father isn’t going to be pleased,Katietoldhim.
Jamie’s mental sigh was weary and pained.I’ll deal with myfather.
Alexei didn’t envy him that taskatall.
The rest of dinner never quite stopped being a tense affair, but business was shelved for the easier conversation of European politics, both groups silently agreeing to not speak of their own national messes. But the deal was sealed, and in the end, that was all thatmattered.
Katie paid for the meal using the Root Source, Inc. account. Alexei knew the MDF considered this a mission and they weren’t technically paying for it with their own money, but the total still made Alexei wince alittle.
“We will talk soon,” Yakov said as everyone worked their way through the goodbyes in the privacy of the walled-offroom.
“One week,” Jamiepromised.
“Da.Oneweek.”
The Pavluhkins left first while the rest of them got situated. No one spoke now that the electronic jammers were all turned off. Trevor and Madison didn’t move from their posts until the four of them stepped out of the private dining room. The pair escorted them through the restaurant and the hotel lobby, where Gisellewaited.
“I do hope you enjoyed your evening with us,” she said as several hotel workers materialized with their coats andumbrellas.
“Dinner was excellent. I’ll be sure to let my father know of your hospitality,”Jamiesaid.
Giselle smiled winningly at him, but was too much of a professional to flirt. She waved them out the door into the wet downpour. Alexei spied their SUVs idling at the curb, hotel valet workers ready to open the doors and see them into the vehicles. He helped Katie inside before climbing in after her and shuttingthedoor.
Annabelle glanced over her shoulder at them. “Ready?”
“Let’s get back to the hotel,”Katiesaid.
Ten minutes later found everyone ensconced in theImpérialesuite on the second floor of the Ritz. The multiple rooms and salons were filled with period pieces of furniture and classic artwork surrounded by a sumptuous design that still made Alexei afraid to take a seat anywhere. Too expensive for his taste, even if Jamie seemed rightathome.
“That could have gone better,” Katie said once she set the electronic jammer for the large suite and kicked off her highheels.
“So what happened?” Donovan asked as he took a seat on a couch that didn’t look comfortable toAlexei.
Jamie grimaced as he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the antique credenza. “Saunders & Associates is no longer a viable avenue to thePavluhkins.”
“So how are we getting to them?” Madisonasked.
“Through my family,” was Jamie’s quietreply.
The protest from the rest of the team who hadn’t been present for the dinner wasn’t surprising. Alexei stepped closer to Kyle, slinging an arm around his brother’s shoulders and giving him a sideways hug. Kyle leaned into him, silently accepting the familial support. Alexei knew the next phase of the mission was going to be hard on his little brother, and he wished he could change that, but changing the future wasn’t ever going tobeeasy.
Surviving it was going to beworse.
4
Not Gonna Walk This RoadAlone
Agent Sean Delaneyhad just logged into his work terminal for the first time in a month when the door to his office slid open, and Elena Flores poked her head inside. She gave him a faintly apologeticgrimace.
“Oh, good. You’re finally back,”shesaid.
